INNOVATIVE PROGRAM AT THE BELLEVUE HOSPITAL
HELPS MOM & BABY GET A GREAT START
An innovative program in The Bellevue Hospital’s
(TBH) Family Birthing Center (FBC) is really helping to
“deliver” timely personalized information and childbirth
education to expectant parents – including the answer to the
most frequently asked question by new parents.
Cherri Wilson, RN, IBCLC, and Sue Felder, RNC, CLC,
with The Bellevue Hospital's Family Birthing Center, display
some of the teaching materials moms and dads receive during
the Pregnancy Partners program.
Pregnancy Partners, now in its second year at TBH, offers to
help prepare moms and dads for the arrival of their little
bundles of joy, with information about delivery,
breastfeeding, care of the newborn, and even follow-up care
for the new parents.
“Our focus is education,” added Wilson. “Before our program
began, we were finding that moms – and dads - had a lot of
questions to ask after the baby was born. From there,
Pregnancy Partners came about so that we could sit down with
each mom and dad and answer those questions prior to
delivery of the baby.”
Perhaps one of the best benefits of the program is all of
the admission paperwork is completed during the Pregnancy
Partners appointment. “This step saves time and frustration
later on when a mom goes into labor and the last thing she
or her partner want to worry about is filling out forms,”
said Cherri Wilson, RN, IBCLC, who helps coordinate the
program with fellow employees Sue Felder, RNC, CLC, and Sue
Sampsel, RN, CLC.
“Sometimes it is a challenge to get the expectant parents in
here for their Pregnancy Partners appointment, especially if
it is their second or third child,” added Wilson. But once
they understand that we can complete their pre-admission
paperwork while they are comfortable and have time to ask us
questions, and we can also complete the paperwork and tests
for moms who know they will be having a Cesarean section,
they are more willing and grateful for the opportunity to
come in for the class.”
“What we find is that our patients who use our Pregnancy
Partners program are much more comfortable when they come
back for the delivery,” said Felder. “They see the same
friendly faces they saw during their appointment, so they
can relax a little bit more.”
A Pregnancy Partners meeting is scheduled for sometime
between the 32nd and 34th week of pregnancy and takes 90
minutes to two hours to complete. “We invite the mom and dad
and/or the mom’s support person, who may be a friend,
grandparent or family member to come in on a Tuesday or
Thursday (by appointment) between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and
5:30 p.m.,” added Wilson.
Other topics covered during Pregnancy Partners are the
baby’s hearing and screening form, how to properly complete
the official birth certificate, names of physicians
currently taking new pediatric patients (if the family does
not already have a physician), care for mom, care for the
baby, post-surgical care (if applicable), hospital discharge
procedures, sleep issues for mom and baby, breastfeeding and
bottle feeding, and general questions and answers about the
delivery process and postpartum care. A mom’s handbook,
teaching folder and video are all sent home with the moms so
that they can go over the material again in the comfort of
their own home.
“They know there is someone familiar waiting here for them,
and they just love that. This is also a great opportunity
for the first-time mom because we can go over the course
material several times for their benefit,” stated Felder.
And the most frequently asked question during Pregnancy
Partners? “It seems they all want to know when the baby will
begin sleeping through the night,” said Wilson. “We always
tell them there is no magic number and that each baby is a
unique individual.”
Pregnancy Partners appointments are generally arranged
through the physician offices, but may also be made by
phoning the FBC at 419-483-4040, Ext. 4295. Further
information on the program can also be obtained by phoning
that same number during regular business hours.
